Self-loading device for shaker conveyors



4 Snheets-Sheet l l QQ@ ,um QAM Aug. 5, 1947. E. R. BERGMANYN vSELF-LOADING DEVICE EoR SHAKER oNvEYoRs Filed Jan) .12, 1946 Aug. 5,1947. E. R. BERGMANN SELF-LOADING DEVICE FOR SHAKER CONVEYORS 4Sheeizs-Sheet 2 Filed Jan.v 12, 1946 INVENTOR I ATTORNEY E. R. BERGMANNSELF-LOADING DEVICE FOR SHAKER CONVEYORS Aug. 5 1947.

Filed Jan. 12, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Aug. 5, 1947 SELF-LOADENGDEVICE FOR SHAKER CONVEYORS Ernst R. Bergmann, Chicago, Ill., assignorto Goodman Manufacturing Company, Chicago, lll., a corporation ofIllinois Application January 12, 1946, Serial No. 640,875

8 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in selfloading devices for shakerconveyors of the type utilized for picking up coal, rock or the likefrom the ground in mines.

The principal objects of my invention are to provide a novel andsimplified form of self-loading device for a shaker conveyor, of thetype having draft devices for swinging the: pick-up end of the conveyorlate-rally along the ground and having a frame extending along thepick-up end of the conveyor and forming a non-reciprocating reactionmember fo-r the draft devices, which frame is so arranged as tomaintain. the draft devices close to the ground by the pull of saiddraft devices on said frame.

The device of my present invention is disclosed but not claimed in anapplication Serial No. 620,362, filed by William W. Sloane on October 4,1945, relating to the feeding mechanism for extensibly and retractib-lymoving the extensible trough o-f the conveyor.

My invention may be more clearly understood with reference. to theaccompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a loading device constructed in accordancewith my invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view of the inby or forward end of theloading device with certain parts broken away and certain other partsshown in substantially horizontal section;

vFigure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary View in side elevation of theforward or inby part of the loading device with certain parts shown insub-- stantially longitudinal section in order to show certain detailsof my invention which are not shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along line 45 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged plan view of the rear part of the loading devicewith certain parts broken away and certain other parts shown insubstantially horizontal section, in order to show certain details ofthe swivel for controlling lateral movement of the inby end of theloading device;

Figure 6 is a View in side elevation of the swivel shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a sectional View taken substantially along line 'i-'l ofFigure 2;

Egure 8 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 8--8 ofFigure 5;

Figure 9 isa sectional view taken substantially along line 9-9 of Figure5;

Figure 10 is a sectional vie-w taken substantially along line lil-l ofFigure 5; and

Figure ll is a sectional view taken substantially along line H-ll ofFigure 5.

In the drawings, the embodiment of my invention illustrated thereinincludes generally an extensible trough I0 having a shovel Il on itsforward end, which slidably supports the forward end of said extensibletrough on the ground and is adapted to pick up loose material from theground. The rear end of said extensible trough is slidably supportedabove the ground on a ground-engaging shoe i2 by means of a pair oflaterally spaced supporting legs It, it transverse-ly pivoted to saidshoe and extending upwardly therefrom along the outer sides of areciprocating trough l5, within which said extensible trough is nested.Said supporting legs are suitably secured at their upper ends to therear end portions of bearing plates Il, Il, extending along the upperouter sides of said reciprocating trough. Said bearing plates areadapted tobe engaged by friction grip blocks i9, i9 of a Afeedingmechanism generally indicated by reference character 20 for extensiblyor retractibly moving said extensible trough with respect to saidreciprocating trough by the action of the conveyor, in a manner wellknown to those skilled in the art.

The reciprocating trough E5 is connected to and reciprocably driven fromthe shaker conveyor trough line through an articulated trough connectiono-r swivel 2l, which is so arranged as to form a means for controllinglateral movement of said reciprocating and extensible troughs, and topermit the continuous flow of material along said reciprocating troughand swivel to the outby end of the trough line, when said reciprocatingand extensible troughs are in various positions of lateral displacementwith respect to the trough line. Said swivel is clearly shown anddescribed in application Serial No. 637,645, led by William W. Sloane onDecember 28, 1945, so will only herein be shown and described in so faras is necessary to make my present invention clearly understandable.

The bearing plates il, Il also form a supporting means for the forwardend of the reciprocating trough l5 on rollers 22, 22 (see Figure 3).Said rollers are mounted on opposite upright side walls 23, 23 of asupporting frame 2i, secured to and extending across the bottom of andupwardly along opposite sides of the forward end of said reciprocatingtrough beyond the upper limits thereof and in advance of the forward endthereof.

The supporting frame 2li has the feeding mechanism 2t pivotallyconnected thereto and extending in advance thereof. Said fee-dingmechanism and its connection to the supporting frame 24 are clearlyshown and described in the aforementioned application Serial No,620,362, filed by William W. Sloane on October 4, 1945, and are no partof my present invention so will not herein be shown or described indetail.

The reciprocating trough i5 is suitably connected at its rear end to aconnecting trough 29 of the swivel 2 I. Said swivel includes arelatively short intermediate trough 3l having a iiared aee 5,078

curved rear end of the connecting trough 29 nested therein. The rear endof said intermediate trough is of a dared curved formation and is nestedWithin a correspondingly curved flared receiving end of a connectingtrough 3d. Said connecting trough is secured to the forward end of atrough 35 forming the inbly end of the shaker conveyor trough line.Pivotal vertical bearing members 38 and 3l are provided to pivotallyconnect said swiveled intermediate trough to said troughs 29 and 35i Thebearing member 3S and connecting trough 29 `are mounted on a supportframe 39 which extends rearwardly therefrom and is reciprocablysupportedadjacent its rear end on guide rollers lli), A0. Said rollersare mounted on opposite sides of a control frame dI which is pivotallymounted on a bearing boss t3, projecting upwardly from a floating plate#3d of the swivel 2l.

The floating plate B4 forms a support for the operative parts of theswivel and is pivotally mounted adjacent one of its sides on astationary base 45 on a longitudinal shaft 16, and is restrained fromupward movement with respect to said base by springs 49, i8 havingengagement with the side of said plate opposite from said shaft. Saidbase is adapted to be held in position on the ground by suitable jacks(not shown) engaging opposite sides thereof and interposed between saidbase and the mine roof.

Two winding drums el, t?. are mounted on a base 69, which may bedetachably secured to the base 45. Flexible draft devices such as cables79, 'II are adapted to be wound on or payed off of said winding drums. Amotor 'I2 mounted on said base, is provided to drive said winding drumsthrough a suitable gearing (not shown) in such a manner that one windingdrum will Wind in one draft device while the other winding drum pays outits draft device (see Figure l). The drive from said motor to saidwinding drums may be ofV a type similar to that shown and described inPatent No. 2,272,049, which issued to Loy D. Hagenbook on February 3,1942, and is no part of my present invention so will n ot herein beshown or described.

The base 69 is adapted to rest on the ground and is detachably connectedat its forward end to the stationary base i5 by means of a forwardlyprojecting connecting member i3 interleaving a.

connecting member 'M and pivotally connected thereto by means of apivotal pin l5. A connecting arm I6 extending diagonally ybeneath thetrough line in a substantially horizontal plane, is provided to connectthe inner side of said base 69 with the rear right-hand corner of thebase fi, and is connected to said bases at its oppositeends byvertically disposed pivotal pins 7l, TI'.

The reaction and guide means for the flexible draft devices 'I0 and "Il,for causing said draft devices to laterally move the troughs I9 and I5about the axis of the bearing boss d3 includes a non-reciprocating frameSI mounted beneath and extending along the reciprocating trough I5. Saidframe is secured at its rear end to the for- Ward ends of laterallyspaced forwardly projecting varm portions 33, 83 of the control frame ilby means of nuts and bolts Se, 84 (see Figure 5). From said arms saidframe extends forwardly beneath the reciprocating trough I to a pointadjacent the forward end thereof. Two laterally spaced longitudinallyextending bearing members 85, 85 are mounted on and extend alongopposite sides of the forward end of said frame. Said bearing membershave concave outwardly facing bearing surfaces which are adapted to beengaged by inwardly facing bearing surfaces of bearing members d'5, iit(see Figures 2 and e). Said bearing members 855, are each pivotallymounted on the insides of depending sides Si', 8i of the support frame24 on shafts 83, 88 extending inwardly of said bearing members andpivotally mounted on bearings 89, 53, secured to and extending inward-1y of said depending sides.

A connecting ear Se projects forwardly from each side of the forward endof the frame iii. Each of said ears extends between the furcations of ashort upright bifurcated connecting arm Si. Said upright arms projectupwardly from the rear end of a floating frame 93 and are pivotallyconnected to said ears by means of pivotal pins .55, 9d disposed abovethe top of said floating frame. Said iioating frame extends in advanceof said frame i!! into slidable engage-- ment with the ground and formsa floating for ward portion of said frame which is adapted to be held infloating engagement with the ground by lateral pull of the flexiblefeeding members l0, li, to maintain said flexible feeding mem bers closeto the ground, when trained laterally from said frame.

A roller S5 for the cables l, I is journaled between the upright armsdi, Si on a transverse shaft Si@ which is secured at its ends to theinside furcations of said upright arms. The upper surface of said rollersubstantially intersects the pivotal axis of the pins Sii, Sli, and isso positioned that when said flexible feeding members are trainedlaterally around sheaves 9?, Sl at the forward end of said frame and aresecured adjacent the ground to fixed abutments remote from said frame attheir free ends, said flexible feeding members will maintain the forwardend of said frame in floating engagement with the ground, which willassure that said flexible feeding members will be trained close to theground and will be out of the way of the men moving back and forthtowards and from the working face.

The guide sheaves 'l, Si are mounted at the forward end of the floatingframe 93 on Vertical pins ed, S3 mounted in the bottom of said frame andextending upwardly therefrom. Cable retaining covers Q9, S9 arelongitudinally pivoted adjacent the central part of said guide frame onpivotal pins Idil, Idil (see Figures 2, 3 and 7) and cover the tops ofsaid guide sheaves. The cables lil, li are trained rearwardly from saidsheaves over the roller 55 and rearwardly along the frame 8l between thesides thereof, to and around guide sheaves mi, lili mounted on verticalpins IGZ, H32, adjacent the rear end of said frame. From thence saidcables extend angularly outwardly and are trained between guide sheavesIUS, ID3, and Sofi, Hill. Said guide sheaves are coaxially mounted onparallel laterally spaced Vertical shafts ldd and It, respectively,which shafts are mounted in a housing I il?, herein shown as beingformed integrally with and extending outwardly from the left-hand armportion 83 of the con-l trol frame lil. From thence said cables aretrained along the outer sides of guide sheaves i853, lsl coaxiallymounted on a vertical shaft liti and housed in a sheave housing IIIsecured to the let-hand forward corner of the floating plate lili. Thecable ld extends from its associated sheave 59 rearwardly along theouter side of a guide sheave H2 and the inner side of a guide sheave H3to the winding drum 61, on which it is wound. The cable 'II extendsrearwardly from its associated guide sheave Ille along the underside ofa guide sheave H to and is wound on the winding drum S8.

When power is transmitted to the winding drums 61 and S, from the motorl2, to wind cable on one winding drum and pay cable off the otherwinding drum, and when the free ends of the cables l0 and 'll areattached adjacent the ground to fixed abutments, such as jacks (notshown), interposed between the mine roof and the mine bottom, the pullon one cable will move the extensible and reciprocating troughs aboutthe axis of the bearing boss 43, lateral movement of which is controlledby t-he control frame lll, to position the shovel il to pick up loosematerial from either side of the shaker conveyor trough line. Duringthis lateral movement of said extensible trough and shovel, the reactionon the floating portion of the guide 8l caused by lateral pull of thecables lo and 'H connected to their associated jacks adjacent theground, will hold said floating portion of said frame in floatingengagement with the ground, and will assure that the cables 'E0 and ,'llare trained from their respective sheaves 96, 96 along the ground out ofthe way of the men working adjacent said extensible trough. and comingto and from the working face.

While I have herein shown and described one form in which my inventionmay be embodied, it will be understood that the construction thereof andthe arrangement of the various parts may loe altered without departingfrom the spirit and scope thereof. Furthermore, I do not wish to beconstrued as limiting my invention to the specific embodimentillustrated, excepting as it may be limited in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a self-loading device for shaker conveyors and in combination witha shaker conveyor trough line, a reciprocating trough connected to theinby end of said trough line for lateral movement with respect thereto,an extensible trough adapted to pick up loose material from the groundand mounted for extensible or retractible movement, and means forlaterally swinging said extensible and reciprocating troughs along theground including a non-reciprocating frame extending along saidreciprocating and extensible troughs and having engagement with oppositesides of said reciprocating trough, winding means having two flexiblefeeding members extending therefrom and along said frame and adapted tobe trained in opposite directions from the vforward end of said frame toabutments remote from said troughs, for moving said troughs in onedirection or another upon winding in of either one of said flexiblefeeding members, said frame having a transversely pivoted forwardportion having floating engagement with the ground adjacent its forwardend and adapted to train said flexible feeding members laterally fromsaid frame adjacent the ground, and said flexible feeding members beingtrained laterally from said floating forward portion of said frame andbeing arranged to maintain the forward end of said floating portion ofsaid frame in floating engagement with the ground when either one ofsaid flexible feeding members is wound in by said winding means.

2. In a self-loading device for shaker conveyors and in combination witha shaker conveyor trough line, a reciprocating trough connected to theinby end of said trough line for lateral movement with respect thereto,an extensible trough adapted to pick up loose material from the groundand mounted for extensible or retractible movement with respect to saidreciprocating trough, and means for laterally moving said extensible andreciprocating troughs along the ground including a non-reciprocatingframe extending along said reciprocating and extensible troughs andhaving engagement with opposite sides of said reciprocating trough,winding means having two flexible feeding members extending therefromand along said frame and adapted to be trained in opposite directionsfrom the forward end of said frame to abutments remote from saidtroughs, for moving said troughs in one direction or another uponwinding in of either one of said flexible feeding members, and saidframe having a forward portion having floating engagement with theground at its forward end and havinga pair of sheaves mounted adjacentits forward end for rotation about parallel spaced axes perpendicular tothe top surface of said floating forward portion of said frame, fortraining said flexible feeding members laterally from the forward end ofsaid floating portion of said frame and maintaining said flexiblefeeding members close to the ground, said sheaves 1being disposed insuch a plane that the reaction against said sheaves caused by pull ofsaid flexible feeding members will hold the forward end of said floatingportion of said frame in engagement with the ground.

3. In a self-loading device for shaker conveyors and in combination witha shaker conveyor trough line, a reciprocating trough connected to theinby end of said trough line for lateral swinging movement with respectthereto, an extensible trough adapted to pick up loose material from theground and mounted for eXtensible or retractible movement with respectto said reciprocating trough, and means for laterally swinging saidextensible and reciprocating troughs along the ground including anon-reciprocating frame engaging opposite sides of said reciprocatingtro-ugh and extending beneath said reciprocating and extensible troughs,winding means having two flexible feeding members extending therefromand along said frame and adapted to be trained in opposite directionsfrom the forward end of said frame and to be secured adjacent the groundto fixed abutments remote from said troughs, for swinging said troughsin one direction or another, and said frame having a floating forwardportion pivotally mounted for movement about a transverse axis so as tohave floating engagement with the ground at its forward end and having apair of sheaves mounted at the forward end of said floating portion ofsaid frame for rotation about axes perpendicular to the top surface ofsaid floating forward portion o1 said frame, for training said flexiblefeeding members along the ground laterally from the i members will holdsaid floating forward portion of said frame in floating engagement withthe ground.

4. In a self-loading device for shaker conveyors and in combination witha shaker conveyor trough line, a reciprocating trough connected to theinby end of said trough line for lateral swinging movement with respectthereto, an extensible trough adapted to pick up loose material from theground and mounted for extensible or retractible movement with respectto said reciproeating trough, and means for laterally swinging saidextensible and reciprocating troughs along the ground including anon-reciprocating frame engaging opposite sides of said reciprocatingtrough and extending beneath said reciprocating and extensible troughs,Winding means having two flexible feeding members extending therefromand along said frame and adapted to be trained in opposite directionsfrom the forward end of said frame and to be secured adjacent the groundto xed abutments remote from said troughs, for swinging said troughs inone direction or another, and said frame having a floating forwardportion adapted to have floating engagement with the ground, saidfloating forward portion of said frarne being transversely pivotedadjacent its opposite sides for vertical movement about its rear end,and a roller adapted to be engaged by said liexible feeding members in aplane substantially intersecting the axis of pivotal movement of saidframe, to form a reaction member for said flexible feeding membersduring lateral pull thereof and cause said flexible feeding members tohold the forward end of saidv floating portion of said frame in iloatingengagement with the ground when trained laterally from the forward endof said frame and secured adjacent the ground to xed abutments at theirfree ends.

5. In a self-loading device for shaker conveyors and in combination witha shaker conveyor trough line, a reciprocating trough connected to theinby end of said trough line for lateral swinging movement with respectthereto, an extensible trough adapted to pick up loose material from theground and mounted for extensible or retractible movement with respectto said ren ciprocating trough, and means for laterally swinging saidextensible and reciprocating troughs and extending beneath saidreciprocating extensible troughs, winding means having two fiexiblefeeding members extending therefrom and along said frame and adapted tobe trained in opposite directions from the forward end of said frame andto be secured adjacent the ground to fixed abutments remote from saidtroughs, for swinging said troughs in one direction or another, saidframe having a oating forward portion adapted to have floatingengagement with the ground, said floating forward portion of said framebeing transversely pivoted adjacent its opposite sides for pivotalmovement in a vertical direction about its rear end, two sheaves mountedat the forward end of 'said frame for rotation about axes substantiallyperpendicular to the top surface of said floating frame, and a rollerfor said ilexible feeding members at the rear end of said floatingframe, said roller having an ensurface adapted to be engaged by saidflexible feeding members in planes substantially intersecting thepivotal axis of said floating portion of said frame, and said guidesheaves being normally disposed beneath the pivotal axis of saidfloating portion of saidframe so the lateral pull of either of saidexible feeding members when secured at their free ends adjacent theground will tend to hold the floating forward portion of said frame inengagement with the ground.

6. In a self-loading device for shaker conveyors, an articulated troughconnection connected to the inby end of a conveyor trough line andincluding a stationary base having a plurality of articulated troughsmounted thereon for movement about a plurality of parallel spacedvertical axes, `said articulated troughs including a laterally swingableconnecting trough spaced forwardly of said base and having a forwardlyextending reciprocating trough connected to and reciprocably driventherefrom, an extensible trough mounted for extensible and retractiblemovement with respect to said reciprocating trough and having a groundengaging shovel projecting from its forward end and forming a supportfor the forward end of said trough on the ground, and means for feedingsaid troughs laterally to position said shovel to piel; up loosematerial from either side of said articulated trough connectionincluding a non-reciprocating frame extending beneath and within thelateral limits of said reciprocating and extensible troughs andconnected at its rear end to said swivel for lateral movement about itsrear end in a controlled path, and having slidable engagement adjacentits forward end with opposite sides of said reciprocating trough, a pairof ilexible feeding members extending from said base along said framewithin the lateral limits of said frame and adapted to be trainedlaterally from said frame and be secured adjacent the ground to fixedabutments remote from said frame, and said frame having a transverselypivoted forward end. portion having floating engagement with the groundat its forward end and having guide sheaves mounted adjacent its forwardend, for training said flexible feeding members laterally therefrom,said sheaves being so arranged with respect to the transverse pivotalaxis of said floating forward portion of said frame as to maintain saidflexible feeding members close to the ground and to hold the forwardAend of said' frame in floating engagement withthe ground by lateral pullof said flexible feeding members on said sheaves.

'7. In aiself-loading device for shaker conveyors, an articulated troughconnection connected to the inby end of a conveyor trough line andincluding a stationary base having a plurality of articulated troughsmounted thereon for movement about a plurality of parallel spacedvertical axes, said articulated troughs including a laterally swingableconnecting trough spaced forwardly of said base and having a forwardlyextending reciprocating trough connected to and reciprocably driventherefrom, an extensible trough mounted for extensible and retractiblemovement with respect to said reciprocating trough and having a groundengaging shovel projecting from its forward end and forming a supportfor the forward end of said trough on the ground, and means for feedingsaid troughs laterally to position said shovel to pick up loose materialfrom either side of said articulated trough connection including anon-reciprocating frame extending beneath and within the lateral limitsof said reciprocating and extensible troughs and connected at its rearend to said swivel for lateral movement about its rear end `in acontrolled path, and having slidable engagement adjacent its forward endwith opposite sides of said r ciprocating trough, a pair of flexiblefeeding members extending from said base Q along said frame within thelateral limits of said frame and adapted to be trained laterally fromsaid frame and be secured adjacent the ground to fixed abutments remotefrom said frame, and said frame having a transversely pivoted forwardend portion having floating engagement with the ground at its forwardend, and a roller adjacent the pivotal axis of said floating frameadapted to be engaged by said exible feeding members, the surface ofsaid roller over which said flexible feeding members pass beingsubstantially in alignment with the pivotal axis of said floating frame,and guide sheaves adjacent opposite sides of the forward end of saidfloating kframe for training said ilexible feeding members laterallytherefrom, said guide sheaves being disposed closely adjacent the groundso as to maintain the forward end of said floating frame in floatingengagement with the ground and to maintain said laterally projectingportions of said flexible feeding members adjacent the ground duringoperation of said loading device.

8. In a self-loading device for shaker conveyors and in combination witha shaker conveyor trough line, a reciprocating trough connected to theinby end of said trough line for lateral movement with respect thereto,an extensible trough mounted for extensible or retractible movement withrespect to said recipl frame extending along said reciprocating troughand having engagement therewith for laterally moving said reciprocatingand extensible troughs upon lateral movement of said frame, a flexiblefeeding member extending along said frame and adapted to be trainedlaterally from the forward end of said frame to a xed abutment remotefrom said trough, for laterally moving said frame and troughs upon thewinding in of said flexible feeding member, said frame having a forwardend portion extending forwardly therefrom and pivotally connectedthereto for movement about a transverse axis so as to have floatingengagement with the ground adjacent its forward end, and guide means forsaid flexible feeding member mounted adjacent the forward end of saidfloating forward end portion of said frame, for training said flexiblefeedingmember laterally from said frame, said guide means being solocated with respect to the pivotal axis of said floating forward endportion of said frame that the lateral pull of said flexible feedingmember on said guide means, when said flexible feeding member is securedat its free end to a xed abutment adjacent the ground, will maintainsaid floating forward end of said frame in oating engagement with theground, and will maintain said flexible feeding member adjacent theground during lateral movement of said frame along the ground.

ERNST R. BERGMANN.

